A nurse is caring for a client who is receiving intermittent enteral feedings. Which of the following is the first action the nurse should take?
Measure the client's gastric residual before each feeding.
Change the bag and tubing every 24 hr.
Document intake and output.
Flush the tubing with 30 mL of water after each feeding.
The Correct Answer is A
The correct answer is Choice A - Measure the client's gastric residual before each feeding.
Choice A rationale:
The nurse's first action in caring for a client receiving intermittent enteral feedings should be to measure the client's gastric residual before each feeding. Gastric residual volume helps assess the client's tolerance to enteral feedings and can indicate delayed gastric emptying or potential complications like aspiration. If the residual volume is high, the nurse can collaborate with the healthcare team to determine whether to hold the feeding, adjust the feeding rate, or take other appropriate actions to ensure the client's safety and optimal nutritional status.
Choice B rationale:
Changing the enteral feeding bag and tubing every 24 hours is important to maintain the sterility and integrity of the feeding system. However, it is not the first action the nurse should take. The priority is to assess the client's tolerance to the feeding by measuring gastric residuals, which helps prevent complications.
Choice C rationale:
Documenting intake and output is a crucial aspect of nursing care for all clients, including those receiving enteral feedings. However, in the context of intermittent enteral feedings, measuring gastric residuals before each feeding is a more immediate and specific action to ensure the client's safety and well-being.
Choice D rationale:
Flushing the tubing with 30 mL of water after each feeding is important to prevent clogging and maintain the patency of the enteral feeding tube. However, this action is secondary to measuring gastric residuals, which directly assesses the client's tolerance to the feedings and helps prevent complications.
Nursing Test Bank
Naxlex Comprehensive Predictor Exams
Related Questions
Correct Answer is A
Explanation
The correct answer is choice A: "Stand with your feet together and your arms at your sides."
Choice A rationale:
This statement is correct. The nurse should instruct the client to stand with their feet together and their arms at their sides for a Romberg test. This position helps to assess the client's ability to maintain balance with minimal sensory input, evaluating their proprioception and vestibular function.
Choice B rationale:
The instruction about the tuning fork is unrelated to the Romberg test. The tuning fork is commonly used to assess hearing and vibratory sensations, not balance.
Choice C rationale:
This statement is unrelated to the Romberg test. Mentioning the lateral side of the foot suggests a neurological examination related to assessing reflexes, such as the Babinski reflex.
Choice D rationale:
This instruction pertains to a different test known as the "finger-to-nose" test, which is used to assess coordination, not balance.
Correct Answer is C
Explanation
The correct answer is choice C: "I should remove constrictive clothing prior to measuring my blood pressure."
Choice A rationale:
"I will wait 15 minutes after drinking coffee to measure my blood pressure." Caffeine intake can temporarily elevate blood pressure, so waiting 15 minutes after drinking coffee is a good practice. However, this is not the most relevant instruction to ensure accurate blood pressure measurement.
Choice B rationale:
"I will measure my blood pressure while my arm is elevated above my heart." Measuring blood pressure with the arm elevated above the heart can result in artificially low readings. The arm should be supported at heart level for accurate results. Therefore, this statement is incorrect.
Choice C rationale:
"I should remove constrictive clothing prior to measuring my blood pressure." This is the correct choice. Constrictive clothing can impact blood flow and give inaccurate readings. Removing tight clothing ensures the blood pressure cuff can be appropriately placed and that the measurements are reliable.
Choice D rationale:
"I should measure my blood pressure immediately after eating breakfast." Blood pressure can be affected by food intake, so it's recommended to wait at least 30 minutes after eating before measuring blood pressure. This choice is not accurate as immediate post-breakfast measurements may not provide accurate results.
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